Agenda - 12-11-2007-4q - Laserfiche WebLink

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STRATEGIC GROWTH AND RURAL CONSERVATION PROGRAM Draff ~ 10.1.2007) compromised by steep slopes and other site constraints. The transfer process is handled almost entirely administratively. Issues: The TDR program, according to the contact person, has not been a success. The failure is blamed in large measure on the County's inability to consistently track the severance of development rights. Deed modifications have proved to be expensive, and have not been followed-through by county attorneys. The result is that the value of credits, number of acres actually conserved, and amount of transfer activity historically is not known, and the staff does not actively promote the program. Site conditions are not used to adjust transfer ratios, and there are no measures in place to address concerns about increased density in Receiving Areas. Performance: Years TDR Program in Effect: 24 Number of TDR Credits Applied: Approximately 10 Acres Conserved: Unknown Talbot County, Maryland. Located in a State that is famous for its purchase of development rights program Martin Sokolich the 30- ear-old Ma land A ricultural Land Preservation Long-Range Planner y rY g Planning and Zoning Dept. Foundation, or MALPF), Talbot County supplements that (410) 770-8030 effort with its own TDR program. Two district types, both msokolich@talbaov.org rural conservation districts that together comprise 80% of the land area in the County, offer TDR credits at the rate of one per 20 acres plus three additional dwelling units. Sending areas are typically parks, open space, agricultural, and natural habitat areas. Receiving areas can accept TDR transfers up to one unit per five acres. The program is free-market-driven, and land prices have increased in recent years without any influence of TDR. Current discussions about improving the program include requiring benchmarks, better tracking through GIS databases, and program incentives to make TDR more popular and effective. Another change may occur when the County adopts a greenbelt program currently being considered that would designate low-density lands surrounding each town /village; TDR would be used to compensate landowners in the greenbelt areas for down-zoning their properties. The contact noted that the staff feels as if they are still just getting the program really started, even though it has been "on the books" for a decade. Notable Features: Like some of the other cases, Talbot County's TDR program is free- market-driven, with the County serving in a facilitation, education, and recording capacity. Adjacent Caroline County has changed their position to be more of a broker of TDR credits, and this option is being discussed in Talbot County as well. Receiving Areas were initially assigned to be partitioned among election districts. TDR Receiving Areas /developers are incentivized to cluster developments and can achieve a higher density if they do so. Orange County, North Carolina